Can I send a demand letter by email or does it have to be mailed in Ontario?
In Ontario, demand letters are not formal court documents, so there are no strict rules about how they must be delivered. You can send a demand letter by email, regular mail, registered mail, courier, or hand delivery. What matters most is that you have evidence the other party received it or at least that you sent it properly.
Email is widely used and practical. If you send your demand letter by email, keep a copy of the sent message including the timestamp, and consider requesting a read receipt. If the other party replies — even briefly — that also confirms delivery.
Registered mail or courier with signature confirmation gives you the strongest proof of delivery. This can be important if the matter goes to court and the other side claims they never received your letter. In practice, using both email and registered mail for important demands is a prudent approach.
If the dispute escalates and you later need to prove you gave proper notice, your proof-of-delivery records will matter. A lawyer can advise on the best delivery method for your specific situation, particularly in high-value or contentious disputes where the other party may later deny receiving anything.
Key takeaways
- Ontario has no legal rule requiring demand letters to be sent by mail.
- Email is valid but you should retain a timestamped copy and confirmation.
- Registered mail or courier provides the strongest proof of delivery.
- Using both email and physical mail for important demands is a safe practice.